The Maids of Paradise

On the third day of August, 1870, I left Paris in search of John Buckhurst.On the 4th of August I lost all traces of Mr. Buckhurst near the frontier, in the village ofMorsbronn. The remainder of the day I spent in acquiring that "general information" so dear to theofficials in Paris whose flimsy systems of intelligence had already begun to break down.On August 5th, about eight o'clock in the morning, the military telegraph instrument in theoperator's room over the temporary barracks of the Third Hussars clicked out the call for urgency, not the usual military signal, but a secret sequence understood only by certain officers of theImperial Military Police. The operator on duty therefore stepped into my room and waited while Itook his place at the wire.I had been using the code-book that morning, preparing despatches for Paris, and now, at the firstseries of significant clicks, I dropped my left middle finger on the key and repeated the signal toParis, using the required variations. Then I rose, locked the door, and returned to the table. 4"Who is this?" came over the wire in the secret code; and I answered at once: "Inspector of ForeignDivision, Imperial Military Police, on duty at Morsbronn, Alsace."After considerable delay the next message arrived in the Morse code: "Is that you, Scarlett?"And I replied: "Yes. Who are you? Why do you not use the code? Repeat the code signal and yournumber."The signal was repeated, then came the message: "This is the Tuileries. You have my authority touse the Morse code for the sake of brevity. Do you understand? I am Jarras. The Empress is here."Instantly reassured by the message from Colonel Jarras, head of the bureau to which I was attached, I answered that I understood. Then the telegrams began to fly, all in the Morse code: Jarras. "Have you caught Buckhurst?"I. "No."Jarras. "How did he get away?"I. "There's confusion enough on the frontier to cover the escape of a hundred thieves."Jarras. "Your reply alarms the Empress. State briefly the present position of the First Corps."I. "The First Corps still occupies the heights in a straight line about seven kilometres long; theplateau is covered with vineyards. Two small rivers are in front of us; the Vosges are behind us; theright flank pivots on Morsbronn, the left on Neehwiller; the centre covers Wörth. We have hadforty-eight hours' heavy rain."Jarras. "Where are the Germans?"I. "Precise information not obtainable at headquarters of the First Corps."